*774-'.
A p r il .
were convinced, from the perfpicuity of Mr. Byron’ s de-
fcription, that it was the eaftermoft of King George’s Iflands.
We were alfo confirmed in this belief towards night, when
we perceived the other ifiand, which he comprehended under
that name. The ifiand before us was extremely low
and fandy, and formed an elliptic rocky ledge, no lefs than
fix leagues in its longeft diameter, from north to fouth.
Its latitude is 14 28' S. and its longitude 144° 56' W.
From fpace to fpace it was covered with coco nut trees in
great numbers, which had a pleafing airy look. Various
trees and fhrubberies fometimes concealed the fiems of
thefe palms to a great part of their height, but their beautiful
crown always towered above the reft. The intervals
between thefe green fpots were fo low, that the fea waflied
over them into the lagoon within. The ftillnefs of the water,
confined by the ledge of rocks, and its milky hue
where it was {hallow, -contrafted very agreeably with the
ruffled furface of the berylline unfathomable ocean. We
failed clofe along the weftern fide of the ifiand in the afternoon,
and obferved the rocks to be tinged with a fine fear-
let colour in many places, exactly as Mr. Byron had found
them. Several canoes failing in the lagoon,’ fmokes riling
up between the clumps of trees, and armed men of a dark
hue running along fliore, were objetts which greatly en-
creafed the pleafure of the profpeft. We likewife perceived
.women retiring to a remote part of the ledge, with bundles
dies on their backs ; an evident fign that they expected no A’p7” ;
good from our appearance on their coaft. Indeed, having
had the misfortune to lofe fome of their countrymen in op-
pofing Mr. Byron’s boats, and having been expelled from
their habitation during a whole day by his people, who
lived at diferetion on their coco-nuts, it is not furprifing
that they fecured their fmall poffefiions againft the invafion
of people who looked fo like their enemies. Towards the
S. W. end of the ifiand we perceived the palfage into the lagoon,
which Mr. Byron mentions, and fent a boat to found
in its entrance, becaufe at that time we were not yet acquainted
with his ill fuccefs in the fame attempt. Gur
people found a bottom of {harp corals, which made it impracticable
for the Ihip to anchor. The natives, who were,
alfembled in arms on the north point of the palfage, behaved
very quietly, and brought fome coco-nuts, which
were exchanged for nails. Upon this information, another
boat was hoifted out, and both fent to the Ihore again, in
order to trade with the natives, and to efface the linifter
ideas which they feemed to have conceived of us at lirft.
My father, Dr. Sparrman, and myfelf were of the party j
though I was extremely ill of a bilious complaint. We
landed without any oppofition, and immediately mixed
among the natives, of whom there feemed to be about fifty
or fixty. They were all a fet of ftout men, of a dark-
brown, and had fome punctures on the breaft, belly, and.
hands,,